Rian Johnson likely won’t return for Star Wars: Episode IX

Credit: Disney/Image Group LA

With news that Colin Trevorrow has left directorial duties for Star Wars: Episode IX, eyes are on Rian Johnson, who is currently working on Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Will Johnson return to direct? He is one of the preferred choices, and he did say that he would love to come back. But what about now? It looks like that’s not going to be the case.

In a press conference in Japan, he revealed that he’s not planning on coming back.

“It was never in the plan for me to direct Episode IX, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with it. For me, I was entirely focused on Episode VIII and having this experience. Now I’m just thinking about putting the movie out there and seeing how audiences respond to it. So no, I’m not really thinking about that right now…Whoever does it, I’m going to be really excited to be an audience member again, and to sit down and see what the next filmmaker has to show us and where this story ends up going.”

Johnson has also announced that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has starred in his films, has a voice role for an alien in Star Wars: Episode IX. The role is “a very brief little thing, but it’s fun,” said the director.

The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper) and stars Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, and Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke. Newcomers are Benicio Del Toro as “DJ”, Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, and Kelly Marie Tran as Rose.